Wheelchair Lift for Samara

Update on Samara's Progress 4-9-24

Thanks to the generosity of her family and friends, Samara has a van! Now that transportation is no longer an obstacle, Samara can receive outpatient physical therapy, be taken to her appointments, go to church and even go to the mall.

The picture on the website is Samara on Easter Sunday at Crossroads Church. She has improved dramatically but there is still more to achieve. The next item needed is a wheelchair lift. Any additional donations made will go towards the purchase of one.

Please keep Samara and her family in your prayers. The Dulin's need all of our love and support. Let's lift them up.

Thank you again.

Dear Family, Friends, and Co-workers,

I hope this message finds you in good health and high spirits. I wanted to take a moment to share an update on Samara's journey and progress.

After spending four weeks at Drake, Samara transferred to Ohio State University’s Dodd Rehabilitation Hospital on May 4th. She was accepted into a specialized 4-week rehabilitation program for patients with traumatic brain injuries. The intensity of the program was remarkable, and the progress Samara made was truly amazing. She underwent 3-4 hours of Occupational, Physical, and Speech Therapy each day. The staff at Dodd went above and beyond in caring for Samara. By the end of the four weeks, we saw incredible milestones - the feeding tube and trach were both removed, and Samara began to communicate by saying "yes" and "no". Her progress in physical therapy was also substantial.

Since June 7th, Samara has been back home, and having her here has been a true blessing. She continues to make strides forward each and every day. She received in-home therapy for a month, and now her dad takes her to outpatient therapy at the University of Cincinnati’s Gardner Center, which specializes in therapy for brain injury patients.

As you can imagine, transportation poses a challenge without a wheelchair-accessible van. Samara is still experiencing severe muscle spasms in her right leg and foot, which makes transportation and maneuvering a 100-pound wheelchair quite challenging for her dad. Recently, Samara underwent surgery to have a pump implanted in her stomach. This will assist in administering medication for the muscle spasms and spasticity. We are hopeful that this will lead to a reduction in the amount of oral medications she takes daily.

Alan and I have been working closely with our case manager, but it has proven to be quite challenging to find a nurse and secure reliable transportation for Samara. We humbly ask for your thoughts and prayers as we seek assistance in these areas. Both of us are working full-time, and the demands of caring for Samara's 24/7 needs alongside our work commitments have been overwhelming.

Your continued support, prayers, and well-wishes mean the world to us. We are deeply grateful for the love and encouragement you have shown throughout this journey.

Sending warm regards,

Kimberly and Family